Page 58 of Impossible Heir for the King

He chuckled and pleasure flooded him. ‘Stefan’s been baking all afternoon in readiness for your arrival. I’m sure Kailani would enjoy a petite pastry with him and Aron while we meet with the specialist?’

Maia nodded. ‘I’ve asked the maid to show him to our private lounge.’

Niko’s tension proliferated. He needed to know. Now. Most especially that everything was okay—thatMaiawas okay.

Maia had known Niko would be impatient. Frankly she was too. It had almost been impossible to focus on her meeting today so she’d had to work extra hard and then she’d gotten fully into it and it had actually made time fly all the more quickly.

She set Kailani into her small chair and smiled as Aron and Stefan immediately fussed around the small girl. She rarely heard from her father and while that sometimes saddened her, there was so much moretobe grateful for. Kailani had two grandfather figures who adored her and taught her so much. Maia too had their love and support. As did Niko.

After a few minutes she took her husband’s hand and walked to the small lounge.

The doctor had set up his equipment. Maia smiled to herself as Niko paced about the room while the doctor helped her. She’d never forget the sight of him standing at the beach clad in just his black swim shorts, his bronze skin burnished in the sun, his tattoos drawing her gaze to his rippling muscles, his protective yet playful hold of their child, his smile as he watched her approach. He was stunning and that he was hers still amazed her.

‘This is earlier in the pregnancy and we need to do a different scan from the first one we did when you were pregnant with Princess Kailani,’ the doctor explained. ‘So don’t worry that you’re going to see less on the screen.’ He smiled apologetically at her. ‘And unfortunately, it might be a little uncomfortable.’

Niko paced about even more quickly.

‘It’s okay,’ Maia reassured him.

‘I’m here foryou,’ he declared. ‘You don’t need to worry about me.’

‘But I can seeyouworrying.’ She chuckled.

The scan was a little uncomfortable and seemed to take much longer than the first one. Niko stopped pacing completely and just stood nearby, alternately staring at her, then the screen, then her again while the doctor just focused on the screen.

‘Is everything okay?’ Niko finally asked through gritted teeth.

‘Yes...’ the doctor answered slowly. ‘But—’

‘But what?’

The doctor breathed out. ‘There’s more than one gestational sac.’

Maia met her husband’s startled look.

‘Pardon?’ Niko muttered hoarsely.

‘There are two...’ The doctor paused thoughtfully again, his focus still intently fixed on the monitor. ‘I’m just checking... Yes. Just the two that I can detect at this stage.’

Justthetwo? And what did he mean by ‘at this stage’?

‘You mean twins?’ Niko clarified urgently. ‘You mean we’re having twins.’

The doctor finally smiled. ‘Yes. Congratulations.’

Maia couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

‘It’s very early and while it’s not probable, it’s also not impossible that there might be more,’ the doctor explained. ‘Sometimes little babies like to hide behind their siblings. But there are at least two in there—looking very good.’ He glanced at Maia reassuringly. ‘Looking just as they should.’

‘Not impossible...’ Niko echoed. Then he suddenly looked tense. ‘Twins. Maybe triplets? Does this make everything more risky for Maia?’

‘Of course we’ll monitor Queen Maia very carefully all the way through this pregnancy. But she’s very healthy and I see no reason why this won’t progress perfectly normally.’

Niko puffed out a harsh breath. ‘You’ll stay within reach of us atalltimes.’

‘Of course, Your Highness.’

‘Thank you, Doctor.’ Maia smiled and spoke more gently. ‘You took such great care of me last time and Kailani and I were both fine. I know this will be fine too.’

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